Austin, Texas got a double dose of jam on Friday night when Leftover Salmon and the Chris Robinson Brotherhood shared a bill at the Scoot Inn. Though each band comes from different ends of the spectrum – Salmon from a bluegrass background while the Brotherhood is rooted in the psychedelic sounds of the Grateful Dead – each complimented the other and the show as a whole was a treat for fans given that neither band makes it to Austin much.
Leftover Salmon kicked off the party with a killer set that showcased longer improvisation and cheerful tunes. The band’s song choice was just what the audience needed as they kicked up dirt and danced along. The Vince Herman sermon was in full swing as the jovial frontman appeared delighted to be playing for a packed venue under the Texas stars. Salmon was joined by keyboardist Adam McDougall of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood for most of the set, who brought his own spacey, extra-terrestrial keyboard tones and imaginative playing to enhance the group’s playing. McDougall allowed Salmon to stretch out and take their sound beyond the usual “polyethnic Cajun slamgrass” and into deeper, more exciting territory.
Leftover Salmon may have played a set that was more fun to dance to, but the Brotherhood were impressive in their ability to lay down rootsy grooves that rambled right along with Chris Robinson’s wide vocal range. Guitarist Neal Casal complimented the songs with flourishes of intoxicating, country-esque solos that brought to mind the stylings of albums like Workingman’s Dead. Fans of the Black Crowes may not find Chris Robinson’s voice taking the spotlight as much in the Brotherhood, as this band is less soulful and more rootsy. The crowd lit joints and swayed along with the Brotherhood’s freewheeling, comfy songs, occasionally unleashing and hitting the audience with a dollop of good old rock and roll.
By the time the Brotherhood closed out with an appropriate cover of the Grateful Dead’s classic boogie tune “West LA Fadeaway”, the Austin crowd had ingested over three hours of music. Each band gave the sold out crowd something different, yet each seemed to bring out an overly enthusiastic reaction from everyone. The members of both bands are seasoned musicians and have accomplished enough to draw crowds even if they were just going through the motions, but this was one of those performances that let’s you know just how much these guys enjoy playing live music.
Photos by Arthur VanRooy.
Setlists:
Leftover Salmon:
Sing Up to the Moon, Mama Boulet, Down in the Hollow, Lets Give a Party (Ants), Bird Call*, Keep On Trucking*, Tangled Up in Blue*, 420*, Pasta on the Mountain*
Encore: Boogie
* = w/ Adam McDougall of Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Chris Robinson Brotherhood:
Hello L.A., Roan County Banjo, Beggars Moon, Ain’t It Hard But Fair, I’m A Hog For You, 100 Days Of Rain, Tuff Mama, I Ain’t Hiding, Got Love
Encore: West L.A. Fadeaway
